Union wants cooks to earn $230,000 a year

A union is demanding cooks at a gas plant off the West Australian coast be paid $230,000 a year, prompting federal government warnings that excessive wage claims could kill Australia's resources "golden goose".

A bargaining request from the Maritime Union of Australia wants cooks at the Ichthys gas field working on offshore oil and gas project support vessels to be paid a base salary of $131,050, reports revealed on Tuesday.

Penalty rates would potentially add another $100,000 per annum to their salary.

In response, federal Resources and Energy Minister Gary Gray urged caution from all unions, saying overseas investment in large resources projects could be scared off by rising costs.

"Everyone needs to be careful that the costs that are placed on industry through these sorts of wage demands don't kill the golden goose," Mr Gray said.

"We've got to get things into proportion and to make sure that workers are paid properly ... and that we can continue to grow our industry and grow these projects."

The $34 billion Ichthys gas field, located in the Browse Basin, is estimated to hold 12.8 trillion cubic feet of gas, with owner Inpex targeting the end of 2016 for the first shipment of cargoes from Darwin.

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According to the West Australian newspaper, the MUA wage demand also includes a $250-a-day "Inpex allowance", restrictions on foreign and non-union labour, and an allowance of up to $80 if air-conditioning fails two or more hours where temperatures exceed 28C.

Mr Gray said while unions were entitled to protect the rights of workers, asking for too much could have the opposite effect.

"We do have to be careful. Excess demands can lead to loss of jobs and opportunities," he told ABC radio.

"All players in this area need to be moderate, proportionate and thoughtful."